[Blindtlk] Hiring a Driver

Mon Dec 9 03:06:43 UTC 2013

Have you called any churches in your area to find out if they would pick you up so that you can attend church?  That would put you in a position to meet some folks and hopefully make some friends.  You really do need a Plan B.  Call your city or state transportation department.  Maybe they could suggest something.  Your state's rehabilitation services department might be another resource for finding about how to get transportation.  Your public library might be another resource and, of course, the internet.

That's my two cents worth. Do you have any neighbors that you can talk to?

> On Dec 8, 2013, at 7:54 PM, Michelle Medina <michellem86 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Ericka,
> You're very fortunate in the family and friends department. Smile.
> 
> I have one person I can rely on and that's my Dad, period. He's it.
> However, he lives 15 minutes away from me and he's getting very
> frustrated with the lack of assistence provided by Medicaid. So I hear
> you about the ridiculousness of transportation!
> 
> I'm sorry, I get that $4.50 is cheap, but I wouldn't even be able to
> use that service you've mentioned if I lived in WI because it's still
> too much money.
> 
> I like your idea of cooking/baking for people and I would totally use
> it if I had the people to test it out on.
> 
> I'm not a member of a church or any offline organization (as I said,
> transportation issues), so I'm a member of nothing and do nothing
> except go to doc apts, counseling and grocery shopping as needed.
> Other than that, I'm in my home 7 days a week.
> Michelle
> 
>> On 12/8/13, Ericka Short <ericka.short at wi.rr.com> wrote:
>> Having a "toolkit" of options to apply to  different transit situations is
>> good for all of us to have.  I don't think there is a flat fee we should
>> charge since distance, hhow you met the person and  whether they are going
>> the same direction  matters. Most of the help I admit is free or is paid in
>> homemade cooking, but that's me.  We do have other options but they are not
>> reliable so I"ve had to be creative.
>> 
>> Craig's list is pretty risky so that's my last option personally.  I have
>> enough friends or family that I don’t have to do background checks or
>> negotiable a fee for service but I'm just lucky I realize.  The last paid
>> job I had I was able to walk to and was lucky in snowy weather like this.
>> Some staff in our department couldn't get across town a few times and I had
>> extra hours that way.    Our buses stop running at 5 pm and do not run on
>> the hour during the day so it's pretty difficult to  connect and do more
>> than one thing via bus.  The buses go to one  4 year college but not the
>> other posing trouble to being as independent as the NFB philosophy asks
>> people to be. Getting there was always harder, but I have had good friends
>> and family that have pitched in without cost.  This is makes the cash
>> stretch since I'm on all the gov't programs you can think of except
>> community care or some program to help you stay in your home.  My husband is
>> out of work and has been for years.  Things are tough and he's unreliable
>> but that's another story not related to vision loss in the least.
>> 
>> Besides having someone I know to help with local errands we have a volunteer
>> transit program run by the county and paratransit called Care-A-Van.  If you
>> are low income and elderly or disabled you pay $4.50 round trip for local
>> things and something else depending on distance you are going out of town.
>> If you don't meet the criteria for the reduced rate you pay $9 round trip.
>> They will only take you to medical appointments if you are not on some kind
>> of government or state program that pays for medical transportation.  If you
>> are financially independent then it is tougher to obtain help since you are
>> not considered needy even if you are legally disabled.  I had to fight to
>> get some things because my husband is sighted.  Most drivers for Volunteer
>> Transportation  are retired folks who want to give back to the community.
>> They are reimbursed about 3 cents a mile for driving so it's not completely
>> volunteer.  It is basically to help with gas.  They will take you
>> anywhere--night classes, grocery shopping, etc. as long as they can find
>> someone to help at the hours needed.  Most will hang out and help you in the
>> store if you ask.  The price is about the same as paratransit but is much
>> more reliable.  WI is pretty messed up as far as transit goes, but Kenosha
>> County did one thing right when they  created Volunteer Transit.  There are
>> a lot of groups of disabled that do not qualify for paratransit including
>> the blind unless you have other medical conditions like Epilepsy or a
>> cognitive disability.  No logic to it.  If you have a bus stop they expect
>> you to take it even if you have had no training to use the unreliable,
>> inefficient bus system.  They used to be more lax but now I don't think I
>> can use them because I can walk even though I’m also Epileptic.  I heard
>> about a lady that has an oxygen tank and uses a walker.  She was told she
>> ineligible for their help by paratransit leaving her the local bus as the
>> only option. Isn't that cruel?  We have several groups working on this but
>> to no avail.   Until the city transit authority makes their buses reliable
>> we are all underserved as the blind community in Kenosha WI.  If you are in
>> a town of 100,000 or less and have reliable transit options tell them thank
>> you.  You are very, very lucky.
>> 
>> I know the way I do things is kind of unorthodox compared to  NFB
>> philosophy, but I get what I need done.  I don't take people for granted
>> though like some with other disabilities take gov't programs, etc..  Many
>> times I offer people gas money and they decline.  I make cookies, share
>> homemade soup or take them out to lunch as others shared they do.  Don't be
>> too proud to ask those who know you for help.  It's a great tool to educate
>> people while getting something done at the same time. Former drivers have
>> written to the  newspaper on our behalf because of this so don't hesitate.
>> Remember that sighted people take help from others so why shouldn't we.
>> 
>> Ericka Short
>> "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Philippians 4:13
>> 
>> "No hand is too small or too big to do good in this world." EJ. Short
>> 
>> 
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